Clock



May 27, 1941.

J. MALUo cLocx Filed April 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Shao?, 1

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- f y .e ffy. Z Inventor JazfphMaizzof ttomey May 27, 1941.

J. MALUO CLOCK Filed April 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n ventor fa'efwmiga A Home y Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims.

My invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly toimprovements in clocks.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simply constructed,inexpensive, clock for use in a projecting machine, such as a movingpicture projector, to project the time on a screen in a novel manner,and which is equipped for manual control to start andV stop the same atwill.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, allof which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will bereadily understood when the succeeding description and claims are readwith reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of the preferred embodiment of myimproved clock,

Figure 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1,

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2, and

Figure 4 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of myimproved clock comprises a cylindrical shell I of any suitable size andmaterial having a pair of annular front and rear disks 2, 3, ofplate-like form detachably secured in opposite sides thereof,respectively, the shell I being rabbeted, as at 4, to seat the outeredges of the disks 2, 3, and grooved, as at 5, to receive resilientkeeper rings 6 for retaining said disks in place. The disks 2, 3, may beformed of any suitabe transparent material such as glass, mica, or thelike.

A pair of front and rear plates, 'I, 8, of circular form and suitableopaque material are fitted in the openings of the disks 2, 3,respectively, said plates having rabbeted edges 9 adapting the same tofit against the disks 2, 3, and overlap the outer faces of the latter. Apair of front and rear clamping plates III, II, of the same size as theplates l, 8, are opposed to the latter, respectively, concentricallythereof and against the inner faces of the same in overlapping relationto the inner faces of the disks 2, 3, respectively. Elongated screws I2connect the plates 1, 8, at suitable points and spacing sleeves I3 onsaid screws and extending between the plates Il), II, hold the latter inclamping relation to the disks 2, 3.

The front disk 2 has suitably delineated thereon inner and outer annulardials I4, I5, surrounding the front plate I concentrically thereof andrelative to each other. The inner dial I4 is graduated and numbered forseconds, and the outer dial I graduated and numbered for hours andminutes.

Hour and minute hands I'I and I6 are mounted in front of the disk 2 andplate 1 for movement over the dials I5 and I4, respectively, as follows.

Journalled at its front end in the front plates l, I0, axially thereofis a hollow hour hand arbor I8 extending into the shell I for a suitabledistance and having the hour hand II secured on the front end thereof.Intermediate the ends thereof said arbor I8 is also journalled in abracket I9 having a U-shaped part 20 suitably secured to the rear faceof the front clamping plate I0 to extend rearwardly therefrom at oneside of the arbor I8, and a laterally bent arm 2l extendingdiametrically of the shell I and in which said arbor I8 is journalled.The arm 2I terminates on the opposite side of the arbor I8 in a bearingsocket 22 for a purpose presently seen. The purpose of the U-shaped partwill presently be explained.

Extending through the hour hand arbor I8 and rotatable therein is anarbor 23 for the minute hand I6, the latter being fast on the front endthereof. The rear end of the arbor 23 has a needle bearing 24 in therear clamping plate I I.

'Ihe arbors I8 and 23 are rotated by the following clockwork mechanism.J ournalled at one end in the U-shaped part 2l! of bracket I9 andextending diametrically of the shell I is a short shaft 25 to which oneend of a convolute clock spring 26 is fixed, the other end of saidspring being suitably secured to a circular casing 25 enclosing saidspring and rotatably mounted on said shaft 25 to be revolved about thesame by the spring. A drive gear 2l is fixed on one side of the casing26 in mesh. with a suitably smaller gear 28 fast on one end of a drivenshaft 29 journalled in a bearing bracket 30 fixed to the inner face ofthe rear clamping plate Il and extending diametrically in the shell I. Afriction wheel 3| fast on the other end of the driven shaft 29 engagesone side of a larger friction wheel 32 fast on the inner end of thesecond hand arbor 23. On the opposite side of the arbors I8, 23, fromthe clock spring 25 and casing 2S is a drive shaft 33 for the hour handarbor I8 extending parallel with said arbor and having needle bearings34 in the socket 23 and the bracket 30. A bevelled edge friction wheel35 is fixed on said shaft 33 in edge engagement with a peripheral groove36 in the friction wheel 32. A second friction wheel 31 suitably smallerthan the wheel 35 is fixed on shaft 33 in peripheral engagement with aperipherally grooved friction wheel 38 fast on the arbor I3.

A ratchet wheel 3Q fast on the shaft 25 and a holding dog 4I) on thebracket I9 provide for holding the shaft 25 against rotation duringunwinding of the spring Z6. The outer end of the shaft 25 has a radialstud 4I thereon for attaching a suitable winding key to said shaft asshown in dot and dash lines at 42 in Figure 3, an opening 43 beingprovided in the shell I for the extension of said key into said shell.Means for manually controlling the spring and described clock works areprovided in the form of a mane ually operative escapement as follows.Fast on the gear 2l is a second, escapement ratchet wheel 44 engaged byan escapernent dog 45 which in turn is fast on the inner end of anescapement key 48 extending diametrically into the shell I parallel withshaft 25 with its outer end journalled in said shell and its inner endjournalled in bracket I9. A coil spring 4l suitably connected to the key46 and bracket IQ serves to urge the key in a direction to swing theescapernent dog 45 into engagement with the escapement ratchet wheel 44.The hands I 6, il, are provided with eyelet-like outer ends 48 throughwhich the grad uations and numbers on the hour dial I5 and seconds dialI4 may be viewed.

The operation of the described clock will be readily understood. Withthe spring 2li wound, the hands I6, I'I, preset, and upon the release ofthe described escapeinent by manipulation of the escapement key 45 inthe proper direction to disengage the escapement dog 45 from theescapement ratchet wheel 44, the hour and minute hands Il, I6, will bedriven through the de scribed clockworks mechanism in the relative ratioof the speed usual in ordinary clocks.

Upon arrangement in a projector, not shown, in proper position relativeto the lens of said projector, the image of the dials I4, I5, and theouter ends 48 of the hands I6, Il, may be projected onto a screen toindicate any desired time, it being understood that as soon as the e.,-capement key 4G is released, the escapement dog 45 Will engage thescapement ratchet Wheel 44 and stop the clock.

As will be understood, the described clock is designed to be used toflash the time on a screen for short intervals, only, in contests inwhich the audience takes part as holders, for instance, of timeindicating tickets, or, in the playing of games, in which an audiencetakes part, different time intervals being of the essence of the game.As one example of the use of the clock, the distributed tickets may havedelineated thereon the dials of the clock and the hands arranged forindicating different time on each ticket. The clock may be started tooperate for a selected interval and then stopped. A ticket holder Whoseticket is timed in accordance With that indicated by the clock whenstopped will be entitled to a prize.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufce to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention Without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modificationwithout departing from the inventive concept, and right is hereinreserved to such modifications as fall Within the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A clock for use in an image projecting machine to project the time ona screen comprising a cylindrical shell having open ends, a pair ofannular disks of transparent material secured in said shell at oppositeends thereof, respectively, one of said disks having delineated thereona pair of inner and outer annular dials arranged thereon concentricallythereof, one of said dials being an hour and minutes indicating dial andthe other a seconds indicating dial, a pair of opaque circular platestted in said disks, respectively, and secured therein, a rotatablymounted axial arbor of tubular form in said shell and having one endextended out of one of said plates forwardly of said dials, an hour handfast on said end of said arbor for rotation thereby around said hour andminutes indicating dial, a second arbor rotatable in the tubular arborand extending out of said one end of the same, a minutes hand fast onsaid second arbor for rotation thereby around said minutes indieatingdial, and means in said shell to rotate said arbors and located betweensaid plates to prevent interference with projection.

2. A clock for use in an image projecting machine to project the time ona screen comprising a cylindrical shell having open ends, a pair ofannular disks of transparent material secured in said shell at oppositeends thereof, respectively, one of said disks having delineated thereona pair of inner and outer annular dials arranged thereon concentricallythereof, one of said dials being an hour and minutes indicating dial andthe other a seconds indicating dial, a pair of opaque circular platesfitted in said disks, re spectively, and secured therein, a rotatablymounted axial arbor of tubular form in said shell and having one endextending out of one of said plates forwardly of said dials, an hourhand fast on said end of said arbor for rotation thereby around saidhour and minutes indicating dial, a second arbor rotatable in thetubular arbor and extending out of said one end of the same, a minuteshand fast on said second arbor for rotation thereby around said minutesindicating dial, and means in said shell to rotate said arbors andlocated between said plates to prevent interference with projection,said means comprising a spring motor, and a motor driven shaft operableby said motor, and a friction drive between said shaft and said arbors.

3. A clock for use in an image projecting machine to project the time ona screen comprising a cylindrical shell having open ends, a pair ofannular disks of transparent material secured in said shell at oppositeends thereof respectively, one of said disks having delineated thereon apair of inner and outer annular dials arranged thereon concentricallythereof, one of said dials being an hour and minutes indicating dial andthe other a seconds indicating dial, a pair of opaque circular platesfitted in said disks, respectively, and secured therein, a rotatablymounted axial arbor of tubular form in said shell and having one endextended out of one of said plates forwardly of said dials, an hour handfast on said end of said arbor for rotation thereby around said hour andminutes indicating dial, a second arbor rotatable in the tubular arborand extending out of said one end of the same, a minutes hand fast onsaid second arbor for ro tation thereby around said minutes indicatingdial, and means in said shell to rotate said arbors and located betweensaid plates to prevent interference with projection, said meanscomprising a normally disabled spring motor, means to enable said motorat will, a motor driven shaft operable by said motor, and a frictiondrive between said shaft and said arbors.

4. A clock for use in an image projecting machine to project the time ona screen comprising a cylindrical shell having open ends, a pair ofannular disks of transparent material secured in said shell at oppositeends thereof respectively, one of said disks having delineated thereon apair of inner and outer annular dials arranged thereon concentricallythereof, one of said dials being an hour and minutes indicating dial andthe other a seconds indicating dial, a pair of opaque circular platestted in said disks, respectively, and secured therein, a rotatablymounted axial arbor of tubular form in said shell and having one endextended out of one of said plates forwardly of said dials, an hour handfast on said end of said arbor for rotation thereby around said hour andminutes indicating dial, a second arbor rotatable in the tubular arborand extending out of said one end of the same, a minutes hand fast onsaid second arbor for rotation thereby around said minutes indicatingdial, and means in said shell to rotate said arbors and located betweensaid plates to prevent interference with projection, said meanscomprising a normally disabled spring motor, means to enable said motorat will, a motor driven shaft operable by said motor, and a frictiondrive between said shaft and said arbors, said enabling means includinga releasable escapement, and an escapement releasing key extending outof said shell.

JOSEPH MALUO.

